Vodafone Socialhttp://blog.vodafone.co.uk
Official Vodafone UK blogFri, 09 Dec 2016 07:57:50 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7Smartphone Innovation 2016: The best new technology unveiled this yearhttp://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/07/smartphone-innovation-2016-best-new-technology-unveiled-year/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/07/smartphone-innovation-2016-best-new-technology-unveiled-year/#respondWed, 07 Dec 2016 08:30:33 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=16054We're almost at the end of 2016, which means it's time to look back at the new technologies that have come to the world of the smartphone this year...

For every year’s worth of new smartphones and tablets, a laundry list of innovative new spec sheet features come along for the ride. Some seem like gimmicks, some establish themselves as must-have staples, but whatever happens you can’t stop the march of mobile progress.

To prove it, we’ve been looking back through the year’s biggest releases, stripping each phone down to its core to reveal the hot newness that each one brought to our pockets. These are 2016’s biggest innovations in mobile…

ModularityAs seen on:LG G5, Moto Z
The modules are coming! The modules are coming! The modules are… Here? Despite Google’s long-awaited Project Ara modular phone biting the dust before release, both LG and Motorola managed to release phones this year with modular elements.

The LG G5 boast attachments like speakers and extra battery packs that you can swap out from the bottom, while the Moto Z range opts for a magnetic back plate that allows you to click different modular add-ons onto its rear without turning the phone off. Will modularity be a long term addition or a flash in the pan? Only time will tell.

Dual camerasAs seen on:Huawei P9, iPhone 7 Plus, LG G5
Ok, so HTC and others have made handsets with dual camera setups in the past, but this year the tech really matured and made a proper case for itself. In the Huawei P9, one cam is used to capture colour and the other black and white, with the phone’s software able to combine the two for extra clarity. The iPhone 7 Plus’ pair of snappers are used both to capture depth of field information, and to allow for a really powerful 2x zoom.

And on the LG G5? Those two cams let you switch between narrow and wide angle lenses, depending on whether you’re shooting something up close or trying to capture a whole room.

W1 BluetoothAs seen on:iPhone 7
Not content with simply employing the same old Bluetooth standard that every other phone manufacturer uses, Apple’s gone and invented a new one specifically for its Air Pod headphones and the iPhone 7.

The W1 chip, found in both the phone and the Pods, allows for a strong, dedicated signal, with pairing that switches on and off in a snap whenever you lift the lid on the Air Pods’ carrying case. Fingers crossed we’ll see more cool uses for the W1 chip in future.

ContinuumAs seen on:Microsoft Lumia 950
Are we nearing a time in which you can leave your laptop at home and head out with just your smartphone? Microsoft thinks so. ‘Continuum’ is the name for the company’s big bet on convergence, where plugging your phone into a monitor, keyboard and mouse will see it output the desktop version of Windows 10 on the big screen.

Launched at the very tail of end last year but maturing this year with handsets like the HP Elite X3, the Lumia 950 and 950 XL were the first to carry this feature, making Windows 10 the first true multi-use operating system.

Google AssistantAs seen on:Google Pixel
Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL, the first to be designed and built by the company in-house, are a sign of things to come from Android in the future. And that’s great news, because if this first release of the fully-integrated Android Assistant is anything to go by, future phones are going to be crazy smart. For those unsure, Google Assistant is the new and improved version of the voice activated ‘Ok Google’ and Now on Tap features, now all baked into one button press.

You can talk to the assistant via text chat if you like – asking it questions and letting it help you get your day organised – meaning you don’t always have to use your voice. Expect big things.

Bezel-less displayAs seen on: Xiaomi Mii Mix
Xiaomi is huge in its native China, and with good reason: the company is known for great design, top specs and low prices. But what’s really impressed the tech experts this year is the company’s Mii Mix, a late entry in the year that completely does away with bezels around the display.

The result is a truly edge-to-edge beauty that maximises on screen estate without impacting on the overall size of the phone. More of this next year, please.

Iris ScanningAs seen on:(The late) Samsung Galaxy Note 7
The ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 did leave us with one cool bit of new tech: iris scanning security. The feature debuted in the Note, but it’s more than likely to make a continued appearance in 2017’s Galaxy handsets and beyond, too. So what is it? Well, if you like your phones safe, you won’t get much safer than using the unique pattern of your eyes to unlock your phone.

Your Irises are inherently more secure biometric keys than your fingerprints thanks to their sheer variety and complexity, but they’re also potentially handier in real world situations – you don’t need to be holding your phone for it to work, for instance, and you can also complete an iris scan while wearing gloves or when your hands are wet. Will the tech completely replace fingerprint readers on phones? Watch this space to see if the eyes have it.

More smartphone tech…Click here to find out what TechRadar’s mobile guru Gareth Beavis thinks is the best phone of the year.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/07/smartphone-innovation-2016-best-new-technology-unveiled-year/feed/0Best new apps December 2016: This month’s must-have downloadshttp://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/06/best-new-apps-for-december-2016-this-months-must-have-downloads/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/06/best-new-apps-for-december-2016-this-months-must-have-downloads/#respondTue, 06 Dec 2016 08:30:29 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=16033We’re back with our pick of the best new and updated apps for you to download this December...

December is here, and with Christmas just around the corner we’ve got all the apps you need to keep you entertained, inspired and on-top of dinner table discussions. Fill your boots with this month’s must-have downloads for iOS, Android and Windows…

DRIVETRIBE | iOS, Android, FREE
Petrol pumping through your veins? Meet the new app from ex Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May that’s so adrenalin-fueled it requires capital letters. Developed as a new social platform for keen motorists, DRIVETRIBE lets you share your passion for particular vehicles through videos, photos, articles and forums. Once logged in, you can opt to join a raft of ‘’tribes’ covering every aspect of car and bike culture imaginable, including ‘The Perfect Roads’, ‘Italian Masterpieces’ and ‘Dogs in Cars’, or go ahead and create your own in the hopes of attracting fellow enthusiasts.

Attenborough’s Story of Life | iOS, Android, FREE
Sticking with the TV theme, the BBC’s new Story of Life app lets you explore over 1,000 of the greatest wildlife moments ever filmed with legendary naturalist Sir David Attenborough. Launched to coincide with Attenborough’s 90th birthday, the app’s vast collection of clips is split into categories including ‘Habitat’, ‘Species’, and ‘Behaviour’. It includes footage from the current series Planet Earth ll, and all playlists have been curated by the main man himself.

Dingless | Android, FREE
Solve a problem you didn’t even know existed with Dingless. Chances are you don’t need to be alerted to new Facebook messages, Whatsapps or Snaps while your phone is in your hand. You could go into settings and disable sound notifications for each app individually, but Dingless enables you to configure the lot with one single switch. It won’t affect your music or calls, it’ll just mute those pesky dings – and the moment your phone is back in your pocket your alerts will come through as normal. Plus, you can introduce time delays between notifications when your phone’s in rest mode to eliminate the rapid-fire dings and buzzes synonymous with group conversations. Perfect.

Stephen Hawking’s Pocket Universe | iOS, £5.99
Why not grapple with the wonders of the universe as you digest your Christmas dinner? Stephen Hawking’s Pocket Universe covers six mind-bending topics including the space-time continuum, black holes, and the expanding universe, all beautifully illustrated alongside simple explanations of complex science – to make you sound super smart.

(COMING SOON) Super Mario Run | iOS, TBC
Nintendo is set to launch its much-anticipated Super Mario Run on iOS this month, with an expected release date of 15 December. It’s the first ever Super Mario title to break into the mobile gaming world, and even Apple CEO Tim Cook is excited. With a classic Nintendo twist on the easy to play ‘Endless Runner’ gameplay, the aim of the game is to help Mario navigate his way to collect coins and reach the flagpole with deftly-timed swipes and taps. There’s no Android release as yet, but we’ve been assured everyone’s favourite Italian plumber won’t be iOS exclusive for long.

(UPDATE) NORAD Tracks Santa | Android, Windows Phone, FREE
It just wouldn’t be a December round-up without a Christmas-focused app. For years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has taken on the important role of tracking Santa, and this December is no different. Updated for Christmas 2016, NORAD Tracks Santa will keep you abreast of Santa’s movements come 24 December, with plenty of games to play and videos to watch in the lead-up to St Nick’s big day.

(UPDATE) NY Times Crossword | Android, FREE + IAP
Put your brainpower to the test with New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle. While the NY Times app has been available on iOS for a while now, it’s just been released on Android, allowing even more of us to access its head-scratching goodness. Mini puzzles are available without a subscription, but if you want the full shebang following the seven-day free trial, subscriptions are offered at an annual cost of USD $39.95, or monthly at USD $6.95. New puzzles are released at 3am GMT daily, ready for your morning commute.

(UPDATE) Instagram | Android, iOS, FREE
Live is all the rage when it comes to social, and now Instagram’s joined the party with its take on real-time video. Scroll across to ‘Live’ mode in the ‘Your Story’ camera to begin your live broadcast. Your viewers can send comments and unlimited hearts while you’re live but, unlike Facebook and Periscope, the minute your broadcast is finished the video disappears forever. Designed to feel a bit more intimate than other live streaming options, the app only alerts a subset of your followers who engage with your photos and videos the most.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/06/best-new-apps-for-december-2016-this-months-must-have-downloads/feed/0Everything you need to know about Android 7 (Nougat)http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-android-7-nougat/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-android-7-nougat/#respondMon, 05 Dec 2016 08:30:55 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=16018Looking forward to the next version of Android? Here's all the newest features, what's different, what's unchanged, and how it'll supercharge your phone.

Software updates are a great way to breathe fresh life into your phone, which is why each of the three major mobile OS makers do their best to bring smart new features and abilities to their mobile platforms on a regular basis. This year we’ve seen the unveiling of iOS 10 from Apple and Android Nougat from Google – the latter or which will be making its way to a laundry list of phones over the next few months.

But what’s new in the latest version of Android, and why should you be excited to upgrade? Here’s everything you need to know ahead of receiving that ‘new software update available’ notification…

1. You’ll be able to use two apps at once
One of the coolest features up Android 7’s sleeve is the ability to multitask with two app windows (or two Chrome tabs) open at once on-screen – top and bottom in portrait, or side by side if you’re using your phone in landscape. Select Samsung phones have boasted this feature for a little while now, but it’s a great addition to Android’s core featureset because it opens up a raft of new possibilities… Like watching Netflix and tweeting about it at the same time.

2. Your battery will last longer
Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) brought ‘Doze’, a feature which monitored your phone’s position to figure out when it was lying inactive on a table, so that it could switch off battery-hungry apps. That’s getting a big update in Android 7 with Doze on the Go, which takes the same principle but applies it to movement. In theory, that means your phone will know that it’s being walked along in your pocket or bag, and suspend certain apps and services appropriately. Smart stuff.

3. There’ll be loads more and
Android 7 boasts 1500 emojis, of which 72 are brand new. There’s even one for bacon. Beyond that, though, the preexisting emojis have been revamped. Android’s emoji faces have long resembled strange, dome-shaped slug-people, but that look’s been thrown out in Android Nougat in favour of rounder, more face-like incarnations that are closer to the ones found in WhatsApp and iOS. There’s also a smarter set of keyboard layouts to support more languages, if you’re still into typing with words.

4. Google is getting ready for VR
Ok, so Google Daydream – the company’s new mobile virtual reality platform – is only going to be compatible with select new handsets going forwards, rather than existing ones, but it’s worth mentioning here since it’s fairly big news and because it’s closely tied to Android 7. Essentially, the tech in the back end of this new software update lays the groundwork for the future of the platform, which is set to host content from the likes of HBO, Netflix, YouTube and a plethora of other apps and games via phones strapped into Google’s new VR headsets. One for your radar, if nothing else.

5. Your notifications will get smarter
Notifications in Android 7 have been spending time in the gym and the library, making them stronger and smarter in equal measure. You’ll now be able to reply to texts, Facebook messages and more, right from the dropdown notification, for instance, while they’ve also learned how to group themselves together to minimise on clutter. Bundled notifications mean that if you get 12 emails in between checks, as an example, you’ll just get one notification from Gmail – which you can choose to expand – rather than the full dozen.

6. And so will your quick settings
On the surface this seems like a fairly minor change, but it’ll save you valuable seconds every time you want to switch Wi-Fi on or off or use your phone as a torch. Basically, a row of five customisable quick-settings will now appear above your notifications with a single swipe down of the notification tray, rather than having to do that irksome second swipe to expand the whole set. Handy.

7. You’ll probably get it within the next few months
So when can you get hold of all this new Android goodness? Android update rollouts vary from manufacturer to manufacturer because making sure everything runs smoothly on every device is a complex process. Samsung, LG, HTC, Motorola, Sony and more have all made a point of saying that they’ll be bringing the software to their flagship phones over the next few months though, with dates ranging from ‘very soon’ to Spring 2017. You can keep an eye on specifics for your device via Android Authority’s ever-updated list.

8. But you probably won’t get the Pixel launcher
Google’s recently launched Pixel phone sports a slightly custom version of Android (7.1), which tweaks some of the user-interface bells and whistles – including a redesigned dock, an app drawer which slides up by way of a swipe instead of a tap. Sadly, that looks like a Pixel phone exclusive for the time being. That said, however, you can get a faithful recreation of it on your phone right now if you sign up to the Beta programme of Nova Launcher. You can find out more about Nova, and what other Android launchers can do for you, in our launcher roundup here.

How does Android 7 compare to iOS 10?Click here to find out what’s new in iOS 10.

If you’ve been staying up to date with our regular app recommendations, then your phone should be chock full of games, services and life-hacking digital tools. But did you know you can also use your phone for good?

With Sunday being World Conservation Day, we’ve rounded-up the very best in conservation-themed Apps. From finding nature to funding it, there are plenty of ways to do your bit for the planet. Read on to get involved…

WWF Together | iOS, Android, FREE
School up on the 16 most endangered species with World Wildlife Fund’s award-winning WWF Together. This incredibly interactive app lets you race a jaguar, out-flap a monarch butterfly, try out tiger vision, and explore the habitats of 10 different species through stunning 360-degree photography. Create your own palm-sized panda with step-by-step origami instructions, or simply pose with one within the app and share to raise awareness.

Speaking of endangered species, Team Aheba Foxes’ Vodafone 24 project wants to save tigers from extinction, using only your old, abandoned smartphones… Find out more here.

iRecord Butterflies | iOS, Android, FREE
Don’t let that butterfly flutter by! By taking a snap with iRecord Butterflies you can not only identify the species, but you can also share your sighting with “Butterflies for the New Millenium” – the Butterfly Conservation charity’s national recording scheme. With one third of all UK butterflies under threat and three-quarters in decline, it’s a bit of a sad state of affairs for this symbol of beauty. But, by sharing your sightings you can make a real difference in helping scientists better understand the cause of decline, and inform conservation work right from your phone.

Good Fish Guide | iOS, Android, FREE
Plenty more fish in the sea? Well, it’s not always true. In fact, The Marine Conservation Society says over 80 per cent of world fish stocks are fully or over-exploited through fishing. And with other pressures such as climate change, we’re heading for dangerous waters. Thankfully, this nifty app helps you feel a bit better about your next fish supper. Type in any species to see whether it’s red, green or amber on the sustainability chart, or view the sustainability rankings of local restaurants to spot your safest seafood supplier.

Nature Finder | iOS, Android, FREE
Frolic in your nearest meadow with the fantastic Nature Finder from The Wildlife Trusts. With a map showing over 2,000 of the UK’s woods, meadows, heaths, moors and lakes, this app puts you in touch with nature like never before. Find out what’s happening in your neck of the woods in the ‘Events’ section, learn about different UK wildlife, and search a directory of all 47 of the UK’s Wildlife Trusts for contact details and text donation numbers.

National Trust | iOS, Android, FREE
Another eye-opening app to get you exploring is National Trust by (perhaps unsurprisingly) The National Trust. Featuring more than 550 protected historical and natural wonders, it’s your guide to great days out. Save your favourite places and share them with friends, or check out the ‘Events’ section to attend talks, tours and theatres near you.

Leafsnap UK | iOS, FREE
Ever wondered what that tree is? Well, now you can identify it! Originally developed in the US, Leafsnap has teamed up with the National History Museum to provide this handy field guide to over 156 UK tree species using visual recognition software. Simply take a snap to compare it to the database or browse the leafy library to find out more about each plant. You can even collect, label and map the trees you identify for easy reference in the future.

Love Nature | iOS, Android, £3.99 per month
Love Nature is the home of natural history documentaries and chilled-out ‘Slow TV’ viewing, but it’s also a great way to give back while you watch. A percentage of every subscription goes to Love Nature’s chosen wildlife non-profits (including the WWF), which means you can watch wildlife and save it at the same time.

Keep things animal-friendly… with this round-up of top Vegan apps to feed your mind, body and soul.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/02/worldconservationday-can-smartphone-save-species/feed/0Appy Advent: Get a paid iPhone app for free every day until Christmas!http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/01/appy-advent-get-paid-iphone-app-free-every-day-christmas/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/01/appy-advent-get-paid-iphone-app-free-every-day-christmas/#respondThu, 01 Dec 2016 07:33:40 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=15981Chocolate's all well and good, but we've got something that'll last you a bit longer than what's behind your advent calendar doors: a free iPhone app every day until the big day...

We’re officially into December, which – as the TV ads are so insistent to tell us – means that Christmas is just around the corner! It also, hopefully, means that you tucked into the first chocolate on your advent calendar this morning.

But the treats needn’t stop there. To help ramp up the festive excitement, we’ve been on the hunt to round up 25 tasty, paid iPhone apps that you can get for free each day in the run up to the main event. Fancy grabbing a digital bargain? Keep it locked here; a lot of these deals are for one day only…

Thursday 1 DecemberiPhone app:Filterloop Infinite | Free (usually: £1.49)
Want great looking photos without the effort? Filterloop Infinite will randomly generate a great set of effects over your snaps with one button press. Don’t like it? Press again!

Wednesday 7 DecemberiPhone app:Linia | Free (usually: £2.99)
Linia is a top puzzler that asks you to draw lines between different shapes of the same colour. Sound easy? Not when these shapes are on the move and constantly shape-shifting.

Thursday 8 DecemberiPhone app:Sero | Free (usually: £0.79)
Sero is a chilled-out puzzle game with no time limits, or ads, or in-app-purchases… Just 100 levels of chilled out brain-scratching, set in a colourful polygonal world.

Friday 9 DecemberiPhone app:My Nearest Places | Free (usually: £2.29)
Hone in on everything around you with My Nearest Places, the app that helps you find exactly what it is you’re looking for – from restaurants to hospitals.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/12/01/appy-advent-get-paid-iphone-app-free-every-day-christmas/feed/0December’s essential mix: This month’s top TV, movies, music and sporthttp://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/30/december-entertainment/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/30/december-entertainment/#respondWed, 30 Nov 2016 08:30:50 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=15801‘tis the season to watch telly, so we’re back with our pick of this month’s hottest entertainment to enjoy at home or on the go…

Thanks to our recent interview with comedian-turned-psychologist Joe Guse, we’re all feeling a bit better about our binge viewing habits. And it couldn’t have come at a better time: this month is jam-packed with fresh entertainment – best enjoyed with family, friends and a Christmas mince pie or two…

Give yourself the gift of great entertainment with one of our Red Value Bundles and choose from Spotify Premium, Sky Sports Mobile TV, or a NOW TV Entertainment Pass. The only hard part is choosing which one. Read on to aid your decision.

NOW TV Entertainment

It’s a magical month on NOW TV with the release of brand new drama, The Last Dragonslayer. According to Sky’s commissioning editor Cameron Roach, “The Last Dragonslayer holds all of the ingredients for the perfect seasonal treat for the entire family; wizards, dragons, a kick-ass heroine and the perfect magical cast.” That cast includes John Bradley (Game of Thrones), Ricky Tomlinson (The Royle Family) and Ellise Chappell as 15-year old orphan Jennifer Strange. The two-hour special is an adaptation of Jasper Fforde’s novel, and it offers a captivating blend of past and present, medieval and modern.

Spotify

It may be the end of the year but it’s by no means the end of new music. This month brings a sleigh full of new releases from John Legend, Drake, Childish Gambino and Deadmau5 along with the opportunity to rediscover your favourite music thanks to Spotify’s brand new Daily Mix.

Accessed through the Your Library section of the latest Spotify for iOS and Android, the new Daily Mix feature puts your personal music taste front and center – and it makes it easy! Forget poring over playlist creation, Daily Mix blends your favourite tracks with new songs you’re sure to love and the more you listen the better it gets. Really like a tune? “Heart it” to add it to your collection. Not a fan of a new discovery? Hit “ban” to block it from future playlists. We “heart” the whole idea.

Also new to Spotify this month is John Legend’s upcoming album Darkness and Light. Set for release 2 November, it features guest appearances from Chance the Rapper, Miguel, Kamasi Washington and Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard. In a recent statement to The Rolling Stone, producer Blake Mills said the album that it “digs into John’s long-standing devotion to social justice, the challenges and rewards of a marriage constantly in the public eye and the recent birth of his first child, Luna.” Listen to first single ‘Love me Now’ below.

Last month we pointed you in the direction of Donald Glover’s hit comedy Atlanta. This month, prepare for new music from Glover’s music moniker Childish Gambino. Three years on from the release of last album Because the Internet, Glover described Awaken my Love! in an interview with Billboard as “an exercise in just feeling and tone.” Listen to his soulful second single ‘Redbone’ below ahead of the full release on 2 December.

The second is a big day for new music, with Canadian EDM hit-maker and DJ Deadmau5 (aka Joel Zimmerman) also set to release his eighth album W:/2016ALBUM/ just as you tuck into your second advent choccy. Pronounced ‘W Drive 2016 Album’, the LP is Zimmerman’s first as an independent artist and while (according to recent stream of tweets) it seems he may not actually like it, many are billing W:/2016ALBUM/ as the best Deadmau5 album yet. It may just be a matter of listening for yourself – starting with the first single ‘Let Go’ below.

Sky Sports Mobile TV

Two of the Premier League’s giants go head to head in the first match of a notoriously busy festive period, starting Saturday 3 December on Sky Sports 1. Both Chelsea and Manchester City feature continental managers with a point to prove, well backed by their owners’ financial muscle. Equally heated is the Merseyside derby on 19 December. Held at Goodison Park, it’ll be the first for Ronald Koeman as Everton boss. Can he improve on Everton’s recent record against a flourishing Liverpool?

Over in cricket, England’s tour of India continues throughout December, and Sky Sport 2’s the only place you’ll see live coverage of their summer series against South Africa and West Indies.

Meanwhile, in rugby union on Sky Sports 2, England is set to take on Australia at Twickenham at 2.30pm on 3 December. Having beaten the Aussies three matches on the bounce in their own backyard in June, can England continue their recent winning streak?

And finally, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the William Hill World Darts Championship – you can catch all the action live on Sky Sports 1 throughout December and the New Year.

Netflix

From the highly-anticipated release of Guillermo del Toro’s Trollhunters to the debut of the White Rabbit Project featuring members of the Mythbusters team, Netflix has a multitude of reasons to hit play this December. So, sit back, relax and enjoy.

DreamWorks first purchased the rights to Trollhunters way back in 2010 with the intention of turning it into a 3D animated feature film. Instead they teamed up with Netflix for a series set to “unleash a new, fantastical world wrapped around two best friends who make a startling discovery beneath their hometown.” This heroic tale is perfect family holiday viewing, and you can check out the trailer below ahead of the full series from 23 December.

From trolls to politics, this month Netflix is also set to release Barry – a biopic about a young Barack Obama. The streaming giant acquired the film following its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and it follows a 20-year-old Obama (then known as ‘Barry’) throughout his pivotal junior year at Columbia University in New York. Set in 1981, Barry stars Australian actor Devon Terrell as Obama as he forms his views on race, government, relationships and what it means to be an American. Watch it on Netflix from 16 December.

The latest from the producers of long-running science series Mythbusters, the White Rabbit Project premieres globally on 9 December. Starring Kari Byron, Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara, latest reports from Deadline suggest it will investigate a range of weird and wonderful topics, including jailbreaks, superpower technology, heists and crazy WWII weapons. Definitely one to watch.

Other notable Netflix releases include crime documentary Captive on 9 December, the return of Fuller House, and the premiere of Chasing Cameron, a reality series following social media star Cameron Dallas, on 27 December.

Is binge watching rewiring our brains?Check out the science behind the streaming.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/30/december-entertainment/feed/02016 in review: TechRadar’s Gareth Beavis on VR, modularity, and the future of smartphoneshttp://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/28/2016-review-techradars-gareth-beavis-vr-modularity-future-smartphones/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/28/2016-review-techradars-gareth-beavis-vr-modularity-future-smartphones/#respondMon, 28 Nov 2016 08:30:50 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=15950With 2016 nearly over, it's time to take a look back at the smartphones that changed the industry this year – alongside the ones that show us signs of what's to come...

It’s November, which, in tech terms, means we’ve had all the major smartphones we’re likely to get this year. And that makes now the perfect time to take a step back, take stock, and see what the mobile landscape looks like – as well as what 2016’s big mobile news means for 2017’s future announcements.

To do that we’ve been talking to TechRadar’s Phones and Tablets Editor, Gareth Beavis, the man who’s written more words on mobile devices in his career than most people have written full stop. So what does he make of the state of smartphones?

Bringing new tech to the table

“One of the big problems that flagship smartphone makers have had this year is that the lower end of the market is so much better than ever before,” he says. “We’re seeing quad-core and octa-core smartphones at the lower end now, which are really pushing things in terms of value. That’s giving flagship phone producers a problems, because you can now get decent specs for a lot less money.”

But that doesn’t mean that the big names in mobile are standing still. In fact, Gareth’s seen a rise in new features and hooks to help the top dogs stay a cut above the rest:

“You see things like the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, with its large, curved display, to combat that trend,” he explains. “It costs money to make those kind of features, and that’s how you differentiate and maintain a ‘premium’ position. Other manufacturers are turning to similar tactics; LG and Motorola, for instance, have both produced smartphones with modular elements to them.

“The Moto Z is actually surprising,” adds Gareth. “We’ve got one in the office now, and the modular aspect of it is quite cool. It’s the kind of thing you could show someone down the pub who isn’t really into phones, and they’d still be impressed by it. The fact that we’ve got more water-resistance in more smartphones this year is also a great thing.”

But when we’re talking about cool and impressive new mobile tech, Gareth believes that modularity and water-resistance both take a backseat to 2016’s other big innovation: VR…

“We’re still at the early stages of this, but Google Daydream is a big step forward, because it will unify VR on Android.” For those unsure, Daydream is the virtual reality platform Google announced in early October, which promises to bring the same VR experience to Android phones across the board. “We’re yet to see it take off,” Gareth says, “but the key thing you need for something like this to work is a big user base, and if every Android phone going forwards is Daydream-compatible and has a decent spec, then that’s half the battle.

“Google’s got the might to attract the right names to the project, too – HBO and Netflix, alongside others, have already signed up to make Daydream VR apps. It’s going to be an interesting one because it’s cheap and it offers a whole new way of using your phone.”

So does all that mean that VR will grow to be much more than the ‘flash in the pan’ fad a lot of emerging tech ends up as?

“Gear VR from Samsung is growing well, Google Daydream is coming through, and it can’t be long before we see the same from Apple next year, so the future of VR is as bright as it can be,” Gareth insists. “The [PC-based] HTC Vive is winning awards left, right and centre even though it’s really expensive – the price isn’t stopping people from jumping on board – so the test, as it were, has been passed. It’s like with Tesla’s electric cars: they made a really expensive one first for the early adopters, then a slightly cheaper one, and now more reasonably priced one that’s aimed at the mass market.

“The same logic applies to VR – the really high-end stuff is amazing, but hopefully it’ll trickle down to the lower end in the not too distant future. There’s lots of ways we can get there, but right now everything seems to be lining up, and that’s got me quite excited about it.”

Gareth’s smartphone of the year

Which handset is the cream of 2016’s crop?

“For me, it’s the Galaxy S7 Edge. Samsung took what was great in the S6 Edge and made it more of its own device, so that getting the S7 Edge now is a completely different prospect to buying the S7. And its success, aside from the curved display, is down to two things. One is that Samsung has really sorted out battery life this year, and the other is that the camera is really out of this world.

“We’re at a point where great smartphone cameras are everywhere, but Samsung is really good at tuning the images its cameras take to look amazing on phone screens. If you want to sell a phone to somebody in 2016, you want to impress them with the camera; it’s as simple as that. Samsung has that nailed, helping to make the S7 Edge one of the greatest phones of all time.”

2017 and beyond

So with all that cool new technology already out there or announced at the tail end of 2016, what will 2017 look like in mobile? Where do we go from here?

“At the flagship end it sometimes seems like we don’t have a lot of room left to go,” Gareth says. “Maybe it’s modular tech, maybe it’s VR, and maybe a big thing will be improving efficiency. There’s also still a long way to go with cameras, which is great. Screen-to-body ratio is another area ripe for improvement – Chinese company Xiaomi recently announced the Xiaomi Mi Mix, for example, which has a visually incredible ‘bezelless’ design, to create a screen without any border. You may wonder how much that would really benefit your experience over pure aesthetics, but that bezelless design is what you see in every Sci-fi film, so maybe that really is the future of phone design.

“Another thing we might see next year is truly flexible displays,” he adds. “Samsung, for instance, may finally debut its Project ‘Youm’ technology in a flexible phone that folds out like a book. The first generation of this might not be truly foldable, but it’ll be flexible at least, and it’ll be really interesting to see what happens with that going forwards; when it does happen, it’ll be the talking point of the year.”

So, with all that being said, what does Gareth really want to see in 2017?

“I’m obviously a big believer in VR, but what’s holding that back currently are three things: chipsets, screens and battery life. So for one thing I’d like to see more 4K displays come through, because you need more pixels to make VR more immersive. More smartphones with 4K screens that are dedicated to VR, rather than just for the sake of it, would be a really cool thing to see.”

You can follow Gareth’s work – including his epic, in-depth phone reviews – over at TechRadar.com, or follow him online @Superbeav

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/28/2016-review-techradars-gareth-beavis-vr-modularity-future-smartphones/feed/0Black Friday Deals at Vodafone UK: Grab the best bargains on phones, tablets and accessorieshttp://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/25/black-friday-deals-vodafone-uk-best-bargains-phones-tablets-accessories/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/25/black-friday-deals-vodafone-uk-best-bargains-phones-tablets-accessories/#respondFri, 25 Nov 2016 09:26:10 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=15909Ready, set, shop! Black Friday is back and we’ve got all the goods for savvy shoppers. Check out our Black Friday deals and bag the best bargains on phones, tablets and accessories...

No longer confined to the USA, UK shoppers have been embracing Black Friday in a big way for the past few years. At Vodafone we’ve got some even bigger deals to keep you connected throughout the silly season and beyond.

From today (25 November 2016) until 10pm Monday (28 November 2016) you can you can save up to £512 on pay monthly bundles as well as super savings on pay as you go, mobile broadband and accessories. Read on to bag a bargain…

Pay monthly

The Huawei P9 is an absolute steal this Black Friday weekend and if you’re after it in red, you’ll find it exclusively at Vodafone in the UK. For just £30 up front and £24 monthly, you’ll receive 6GB of data with unlimited texts and minutes. Plus, if you buy online, you’ll get a smartwatch worth £238 included!

But wait, there’s more… Also on offer this weekend is the Samsung Galaxy S7. With its 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display and expandable storage, the S7 is perfect for gaming, watching movies or taking millions of snaps over the festive season. At just £70 up front and £24 monthly you’ll save a whopping £512 with a massive 6GB of monthly data!

Or, opt for the iPhone 5S and get 6GB of data for the price of 1. At only £10 up front and £24 per month, you save £192.

Pay as you go

You can seize super savings on new handsets when you grab one with one of our £10 Big Value Bundles this weekend. The slim and elegant Sony Xperia XA is now just £149 (down from £225).

The LG K8 is down £25 to £75, and the Huawei P8 Lite, with its crystal clear screen and fast-launching camera, is now just £79 down from £140! Plus, with our £10 Big Value Bundle, you’ll enjoy 150 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of data every 30 days. Cracking.

Mobile broadband

Grab up to 25% off a dongle, data-only SIM or mobile Wi-Fi device and get online wherever you are. For this weekend only you can sign up for 15GB of data at £15, 30GB at £20 or a huge 50GB at just £25 a month on a 30-day contract. That’s a whole heap of scrolling, streaming and social for very little spending.

Accessories

We’ve got some great deals on accessories this Black Friday! Give your portable audio a boost with a pair of Beats Solo 2 headphones for just £120 – down £50! Designed for rich, bassy sound, tuned for emotion and perfect for your daily commute, these babies provide fine-tuned acoustics full of clarity, breadth and balance.

Or, pick up a pair of JBL T450 headphones for 50% off – now only £12.50! While these headphones might be low on price they don’t compromise on quality, allowing you to enjoy the deep and powerful base JBL is known for everywhere you go.

Get in quick…Black Friday deals run from Friday 25 November until 10pm Monday 28 November online, in store and on mobile. Head over to vodafone.co.uk now to find these and loads more great deals.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/25/black-friday-deals-vodafone-uk-best-bargains-phones-tablets-accessories/feed/0#GoDiscover: Take an awesome shot of your local area for a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy S7 and Gear VR headset!http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/25/godiscover-win-samsung-galaxy-s7/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/25/godiscover-win-samsung-galaxy-s7/#respondFri, 25 Nov 2016 08:29:42 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=15890Think you've got what it takes to capture your local area at its best? Show us your snaps and you could win a Samsung Galaxy S7 and a Gear VR headset!

Everyone’s got that one amazing photo on their phone. You know the one; the one you wheel out whenever you’re trying to show off your best smartphone photography skills. Well, we want to see it!

We’re looking to dish out three Samsung Galaxy S7s and three Gear VR headsets to three budding mobile photographers, and entering couldn’t be simpler. Fancy winning both the prize and the glory? Read on to find out how…

#GoDiscover your hometown

We’ve recently been named the UK’s #1 network for mobile, as independently tested by P3. It’s a sign that all our hard work behind the scenes is paying off, but it’s also something we think is really worth shouting about.

As you can probably see from the pics dotted about this page, our pro photographers were whisked off to some of the UK’s most photogenic parts of Manchester, Edinburgh and Liverpool, and asked to capture the best low-light snaps they could on their Galaxy S7s. What do you get when you mix raw talent, one of the best smartphone cameras in the business, and lightning fast upload speeds? The results speak for themselves!

But now it’s your turn. We want to see the best shots of your hometown or local area you can take on your phone, and the best three – as voted by our Instagram pros – will win themselves a handset and a VR headset each. So how do you enter? It’s easy as pie; just take your winning shot, upload it to Instagram, include the hashtag #GoDiscover along with @VodafoneUK in the caption.

As always, you can check out the full Ts&Cs at the bottom of this post, but there’s really nothing to it – just get out there, snap away, and you could soon find yourself in possession of a brand new phone. Fancy seeing what you’re up against? Every entry we receive will appear in the hub below, so keep it locked right here to check out the competition!

Need more inspiration? Check out the smartphone shots Daniel Casson took when we took him to the Lake District.

#GoDiscover Competition

The competition will open at 12:01am on Friday 25 November 2016 and close at 5pm on Friday 2 December 2016.

To enter, upload a smartphone image of your hometown or local area on Instagram including #GoDiscover and @VodafoneUK in the caption.

Using this method, you can enter once on Instagram.

Your entry must not be inappropriate (for example, logos of other companies), offensive or illegal, in breach of another person’s rights or in breach of Instagram or Vodafone Social’s rules. Please don’t include an image of someone who has not agreed to appear in the photo. We’ll disqualify such entries without notice.

Sorry, but you can’t enter this prize draw if:

a) You don’t live in the UK,

b) You’re under 18 years old,

c) You have an affiliation with, or work on the #GoDiscover competition.

Winner and Prize

There are 3 prizes to be won.

The winners will each receive a SIM free Samsung Galaxy S7 and Gear VR headset 8.

The winner will need to pay for any other expenses associated with the prize.

The three Instagram photographers enlisted by Vodafone will each independently choose a winner for this competition from all eligible entries. The photographers who are judging the competition (Alex Stead, Daniel Casson and Sean Byrne) will be looking for the most original photo that portrays the entrants’ local area the best.

Winners will be chosen on Monday 5 December 2016. We will contact the winner via private message on Instagram to confirm their acceptance of the prize and personal details for delivery. If we don’t receive a response from you within 72 hours, the judges we will pick another winner.

The winners will be announced by Vodafone’s Instagram page on [Friday 9 December at 3pm]

The prizes are not transferable and no cash alternative will be offered. If for any reason we cannot provide the prize, we will offer an alternative prize of similar value.

The winners will receive their device via courier within 30 days of the competition.

We are not responsible for any damage to the prize on and during delivery as we rely on third parties for delivery. Please email us if there’s a problem with your prize at webrelations@gb.vodafone.co.uk

Winners may notify us by email of any change of details or address by email to webrelations@gb.vodafone.co.uk before Friday 9 December 2016.

If you can’t accept the prize for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible and an alternative winner will be chosen. No additional prize will be provided.

Publicity & Content

By entering the prize draw you give us your unconditional, payment-free, permission to use, copy, process, publish, transmit and display your entry and include this on Vodafone UK’s social channels.

Photographs and video content will be taken during the event and may be uploaded to Vodafone’s social media channels (including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and used in future marketing material. By entering the prize draw you give us your unconditional, payment-free permission to use this content for these purposes.

We will use your details to run the prize draw and contact you if you win. We won’t keep your details after the promotion has ended or send you marketing unless you have agreed to this.

All entries that comply with these rules may be displayed on the Vodafone Social page.

The winner’s name may be displayed on Vodafone Social. For the winners’ names please send a SAE to Kimberley Harcombe –External Communications at Vodafone Limited, Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2FN by 31 December 2016.

Entrants may be requested to participate in related publicity for Vodafone UK, including name and general location being used in social media.

Whilst we’ll try and fulfil our obligations to run the prize draw smoothly, we’ll not be responsible if something happens that is beyond our reasonable control.

We reserve the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify you without notice if you tamper with the entry process or don’t comply with these rules.

By entering the prize draw you accept these terms. Our decisions are final and we reserve the right not to enter into detailed responses to you.

This prize draw is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram.

]]>http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/25/godiscover-win-samsung-galaxy-s7/feed/0Win heaps of Pay as you go data with the My Vodafone app!http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/24/my-vodafone-app-payg/
http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2016/11/24/my-vodafone-app-payg/#respondThu, 24 Nov 2016 08:30:18 +0000http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/?p=15799Fancy winning a load of extra Pay as you go data? Here's how the My Vodafone app could help you do exactly that!

If you’ve not used the My Vodafone app in a while, you’re in for a real treat: we’ve been updating it regularly to provide more features, a cleaner look and a more powerful set of tools to help you keep track of everything to do with your Vodafone account. And to celebrate, we’ve been dishing out a slew of awesome prizes.

Today, we’re adding to that list of top prizes. To mark the fact that we’ve just supercharged our Pay as you go feature set, we’re giving away 1000 chunks of extra data in an exclusive competition for Pay as you go customers with the My Vodafone app installed. Read on to find out how you could grab some gratis goodies…

Do more with data

If you’re on Vodafone Pay as you go, we’ve got some great news. Previously, any Pay as you go Big Value Bundle customers who used up their allowances before the end of their 30 day period would have to wait until the end of that period to get more. We realise that could cause headaches, though, so we’ve changed things up. Now, you can replenish those precious megabytes, minutes and texts with a simple SMS. Text:

Messages are free from your Vodafone Pay as you go mobile and can only be sent from the phone you want to apply the bundle to. We’ll also text you when you’ve hit 80% and 100% of your Big Value Bundle allowance to remind you of the options available.

Your new Big Value Bundle will last for 30 days from the renewal date and renew automatically as long as you have enough credit, Please note that any remaining calls or data can’t be carried over to the next 30-day period.

You can choose a different Big Value Bundle when you renew, which will then remain as your new monthly amount until you opt-out or renew to another amount again (for example, your £20 bundle runs out and you choose to renew with a £10 one instead, it’ll renew as a £10 bundle each month from that point).

It’s a small change, but it’s one we know will make a huge difference. And to help shout about it, we’re giving away stacks of free data!

Win with Vodafone Pay as you go

From today (24 November) until 4pm on 4 January 2017, Pay as you go customers who log into the My Vodafone app can enter their details in the ‘Competitions’ section to win one of 1000 blocks of extra gigabytes.

We’ll be giving away the following data bundles (all valid for 30 days):

As always, you can see the full Ts&Cs for the giveaway right below this post, but before you do that, why not check out everything that’s new about the My Vodafone app? You can download the new-look app above. Good luck!

To be in with a chance of winning one of 1,000 prizes, simply download the latest version of our My Vodafone app and enter the prize draw by selecting Competitions in the app menu.

Find out about downloading the app

Vodafone’s Big Prize Grab – terms and conditions

Here you can find useful information about the prize draw including how to enter, the prize list, and how it will be run.

How to enter

1. The prize draw will open at 10 am on 24 November and will close at 4pm on 4 January 2017. 2. To enter you must be a Vodafone Pay as you go customer, and have downloaded and installed the My Vodafone app (available on the App Store and Google Play).3. To enter you must submit your email address and Vodafone mobile number using the competition section in the My Vodafone app. Please check that the details you submit are correct, as we won’t be responsible if your entry is incomplete, incorrect or doesn’t comply with these terms. 4. Using this method, one entry can be submitted per person. Duplicate entries will not be entered into the draw.5. Sorry, but you can’t enter this prize draw if:• You don’t live in the UK• You’re under 18 years old

Winner and prize

7. The 1,000 winners will be selected at random from all eligible entries. The first 50 winners drawn will be allocated the 50GB prizes. The next 200 winners will receive the 20GB prizes and the final 750 winners will receive the 1GB prizes. 8. If a prize isn’t available for any reason we’ll replace it with a prize of equivalent value, no cash alternative will be offered.9. The winners will need to be on compatible Pay as you go device to receive the prize. If your account is incompatible, we’ll add an equivalent allowance to your account – we’ll let you know where this is the case.

Publicity and content

10. We’ll use your details to run the prize draw and contact you if you win. We won’t keep your details after the promotion has ended or send you marketing unless you have agreed to this. 11. The winners’ names may be included in a future Vodafone newsletter. For the winners’ names, please send a SAE to Consumer CVM team – Big Prize Grab, The Connection, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2FN by 31 January 2017.12. While we’ll try and fulfil our obligations to run the prize draw smoothly, we won’t be responsible if something happens that is beyond our reasonable control. 13. We reserve the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify you without notice if you tamper with the entry process or don’t comply with these rules. Please note: Vodafone employees aren’t eligible to enter the prize draw and we’ll exclude any phone numbers that have a 50% or 100% Vodafone employee discount applied. 14. By entering the prize draw you accept these terms. Our decisions are final and we reserve the right not to enter into detailed responses to you.